Look at the cool aircraft tested by NASA over the years with this interactive site. Click on an image of an aircraft to view the specifications, overview, and images. Click on the phone on the table to view great videos of testing of aircraft. Learn how aircraft make the journey from prototype to production of the plane. Play an Aero Match Game or an Air War card game for added fun.

In the Classroom

Use in a History or Science class. View the scientific principles, outline the aspects of the scientific method important to testing, or similarities and differences of the aircraft. Challenge students to answer how the development of the aircraft has changed the space program. Identify historical significance, economic, and social factors that have changed not only aircraft design but the space program as well. Identify and research other technological feats, materials, and inventions that have revolutionized aircraft and space exploration. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.

Use this free site for mind mapping (concept maps) and collaboration. Sign up is easy by using existing Google/OpenID/Facebook logins or creating a new login. Review the simple tutorial after sign up for the basics. The FREE account is only for ONE user. So if you plan to have students use the site, you will have to have each student register individually, or each group create an individual account. Note that free accounts make all your "slates" public for others to collaborate/change.

View the video for a quick introduction on copying, moving, and linking boxes. Use the template panel to drop nodes needed for your new slate into the drop panel. Hovering over the box shows tools for editing text, creating links to other boxes (click and hold on the icon while dragging to another box.) Control the colors, borders, template, etc. in the right navigation pane. Export your slate to a pdf document or create an embed code to place into a wiki or blog.

In the Classroom

Create a template mindmap and add collaborator leaders (perhaps one in each group) who can --in turn-- add the rest of the group to collaborate. Assign portions of a template to a group of students. Groups can collaborate on paper or your whiteboard and then choose the best ideas for the slate being created. You can also use Slatebox with a whole-class account. Show SlateBox creations using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Edit or change elements easily with class input. Use for mapping content being studied in the current unit, problem solving, vocabulary, and more. Use this site to help students interact with and organize ideas. Construct points of a short story, identify main points of passages, or generate a map of the basic points of paragraph development. Wrap up a lesson by having the students create a "diagram of the day" (the main points of the lesson). Students can use this site to map ideas in passages of a textbook. If each student or group maps a specific passage, ideas from chapters can be seen visually. Be sure to include the links to student-created "diagrams" on a class wiki or web page so students can use them for review. If your students have Internet access outside of class, assign them to create a simple diagram of an assigned reading as homework and embed it into a wiki or blog.

Have a student stumped by homework? Find exercises and extra help in various subject areas in this kid friendly site. Navigate through the various resources and friendly graphics to areas of the site such as "Sweet Stuff" which features neat interactives, "Needed Knowledge" with great tips, "Book review" to view video book reviews, and "Getting Historical." Watch informative (don't confuse with boring) videos of various math problems whether it be basic math, solving word problems, or even geometry. Find videos for other subjects such as science, language arts, social studies, health, and art. Review information in various subjects by trying age-appropriate interactives. This site also boasts "Dial A Teacher." Students can use a toll-free number to speak with a real teacher Monday through Thursday between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. EST.

In the Classroom

Visit the "Boring Stuff' link for parents and teachers to find a PDF of 10 Ways to Use the Homework Helper Site in Your Classroom. Find segment guides, scripts, and book reviews beneficial for in class or use by students outside of class. Share this link at Back to School Night and put the link directly on your class website. Encourage middle schoolers to build independent work habits using this site.

Consider creating helpful information, videos, and tutorials of information students need answers to and creating your own help site as a school. Use students to create book reviews, math tutorials, etc. Use a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here to share the videos.

Amelia Earhart's birthplace and home in Atchison, Kansas has been turned into a museum to honor her accomplishments. Their website offers several resources geared toward showcasing her life and accomplishments. Visitors to the site can take a virtual tour of the museum to visit the parlors, kitchen and other rooms of her childhood home including several original artifacts. You can visit the link entitled Amelia Earhart to read a short biography, childhood information, aviation accomplishments, fun facts, and much more. Be sure to check out the News Clips portion for actual copies of news articles about her adventures.

In the Classroom

Have students create an online presentation on Amelia Earhart or women in aviation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge presentation tools reviewed here. Have students create "talking pictures" as an alternative to a traditional reports using Fotobabble reviewed here.

This site lets you keep study notes with you anywhere you go! Create flashcards and study even on your mobile phone. Share notes, flashcards, study guides, and quizzes with others for excellent collaboration. Study Blue also provides hints to help students study. Create a folder in "My Backpack." Make flashcards to get started or search flashcards already created by others.

In the Classroom

Use as a study aid for students. This is a great tool for older students (who own cell phones). Students can study their flashcards on the bus, in the backseat of the family car, or while waiting for their dentist appointment! Have students create individual accounts and collaborate with others or create a class account for all to use. Have groups collaborate on the creation of flashcards for students to use or have groups create flashcards for specific parts of the unit. Learning support students can take their extra help along with them.

This interesting site (created by Google), provides an easy way to search and explore historical archives. In addition, the search can also create timelines from relevant time periods by using the advance search table that pops up on the landing page.

In the Classroom

This site will complement any social studies, history class, or English class. Use the search to bring history alive for students. Show actual news articles on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students use this tool for research. Have them use the advanced search table that pops up to find events that happened during a particular time period. English teachers will also find this a useful tool to show how journalism has evolved through the years.

In the Classroom

Save this site as a favorite and use it as a point of reference for lessons and classroom activities based around the holiday. This collection could be useful in a study of world religions or world cultures. Include the link on your class web page as students investigate different holiday traditions. Have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to create a blog using EasyBlog, reviewed here.

Learn all about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including it's historic beginnings, fun facts, and the state government at this website just for kids. The site is divided into eight categories including State House trivia through Reconstruct MA Artifacts. One especially interesting area is The Ladybug Story, the true story of how a second grade class helped to make a new law. Also, be sure to take the Massachusetts history quiz to learn about the early setters of the commonwealth. If you are looking for state facts, there is a section just for this with almost anything you would want to know from symbols all the way through to famous sons and daughters of the state. This information is also available to download as a pdf.

In the Classroom

Challenge your students to go past PowerPoint and make an online presentation using Animoto (reviewed here) or another reviewed presentation tool from the TeachersFirst Edge. Share the site with students as a resource for state research projects. Use The Ladybug Story with younger students to demonstrate the bill-creation process, then compare with your state's procedures.

Here's a highly visual look at life on the frontier during the American Revolution, created with the help of several groups of reenactors. The unit includes information on the life of children in this setting.

In the Classroom

Use this unit as part of a study of colonial America, or to show what daily life was like in the 18th century. Be sure to explore the Teacher area for specific writing ideas and more. Extend the lesson by having student groups map their own virtual "frontier fort" using an online drawing tool such as Scribblar reviewed here.

Comments

Great to use during my American Revolution Unit!!!Veronica, NC, Grades: 5 - 12

My Culture Quest is an interactive that allows you to explore the world's museums and search for items from different countries. As items are gathered, you answer questions and move to new countries and items. Earn points based on the items gathered - more points are earned by gathering items by themes such as conflict, religion, or celebrations. Upon completion, see your items in an exhibit and a score based on the exhibit's success. Image links are also available.

In the Classroom

Allow students to try this on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Review geographical locations and continents as students travel to different exhibits. Geographic locations and museum exhibits found here could be used as options for reports on different countries and locations. Create Venn diagrams, comparing and contrasting different cultures to the students' culture. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here).

This site, created by the Kennedy Center offers a wealth of interactive lesson plans for grades K-12 dealing with a variety of topics, all with an "arts" spin. Search by subject, keyword, or grade level (K-4, 5-8, or 9-12). Some examples of topics include Native Americans, Civil War, Shakespeare, myths, melodrama, adjectives, baseball, and countless others! There are many interactive lessons: some with video, audio, or slideshows. The lessons provide an estimate of time required and complete, step-by-step instructions. There are printables included with some of the lessons.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Search this site for a topic that you are teaching in your class. Share the lesson on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Better yet, make the video or slideshow a learning station for students to do themselves in small groups.

This site is an excellent resource for learning Hebrew and expanding one's knowledge of Jewish culture and Israeli history. Try the interactives about multicultural objects. There is also an online picture dictionary in Hebrew. All activities feature both a learning section and a playing section, so those new to the site or the religion can glean information before they start enjoying all of the information and interactives.

In the Classroom

Keep this site in mind as an easy place to find lists of Jewish months, Jewish symbols, information about Judaism and its temples, and plenty of information about Jewish holidays. Since the Language Matching games section of the offering involves Hebrew writing, it is also a fun way to look at a different script. Classes studying world cultures, the Hebrew language, and/or international holidays can learn from this site and also use it as a model to create similar games and projects for other cultures and languages. Challenge students to learn some Hebrew and create a written story. Have students share the story visually while it is read aloud on a podcast. Use a tool such as PodOmatic (reviewed here), to share your podcasts.

Combine writing, an explorers' study, and fall celebrations using this activity which asks students to compose an epitaph for an explorer of their choice. Writing and art opportunities abound, and the end product makes a great display for parent-teacher conferences.

Teachers and students will both appreciate all of the information offered at this site about transportation in the state of Iowa. Students can learn about some of Iowa's colorful characters such as Wild Bill Cody and their contribution to the development of today's modern transportation system located under the Transportation History section of the site. You don't need to reside in Iowa to benefit from the transportation related experiments and great project ideas found under the Teacher Resource section. Choose the games and activities portion to find slider puzzles, word searches, safety quizzes, and more.

In the Classroom

Display the site on your interactive whiteboard and share information about famous Iowans such as Amelia Earhart. Have students create a simple online poster using PicLits (reviewed here) containing information learned on the site. Share this site with students when working on state research projects.

The State of Connecticut offers this informative site just for kids loaded with information and facts in an easy to use format. Follow links on the home page to learn about Connecticut history, state symbols, and the state government. Other links lead to puzzles and games such as picture puzzles of Connecticut symbols such as the state flower and bird, word searches with state words, and coloring pages with everything from aquariums to zoos. Follow the Connecticut government link to take a pictorial tour of the state capitol filled with facts and history of the building.

In the Classroom

Have students create a simple online posters using PicLits (reviewed here) as an alternative to a traditional written report of the state. Share the site on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) then allow students to explore on their own.

Ken Burns has been busy again, this time creating a film about the US National Parks. This site carries many clips and even the full length film. There are many resources here about the US National Parks. To make the site more collaborative, you can submit a story and pictures about a visit to a national park. There is an extensive bank of other web resources as well. There are also lesson plans available at the "Educators Link."

In the Classroom

Share the film (or clips) on your interactive whiteboard or projector. One section of the site enables you to design a national park postcard to email to a friend. Groups of students might research individual national parks (links to the NPS site appear on this site) and circulate their own postcards to other groups. Students can also "collect" national park badges that can be cut and pasted into personal or class websites. You could also have cooperative learning groups create multimedia projects about various National Parks. Have students create online posters or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here). If you are near a park, your students could create an online park tour to share with others far away! Try a tool such as Tabblo (reviewed here)to create it!

Footlockers beckon to be opened. Likewise, a digital footlocker such as this site begs the visitor to click on its links to discover what being a Montana citizen was like during WWII. Open the footlocker and discover pdf versions of war bonds, listen to songs from the '40s, or imagine yourself in the clothing from that era. Not only is this site a glimpse into Montana during the 1940s, but you will find a little bit of your own region's history there, too. The site also includes history-oriented lesson plans available from the 1940s. More importantly, you may glean ideas from this site on how to create your own digital footlocker, an electronic collection of artifacts on a common topic.

This site is one of two official Martin Luther King sites. Come to this site to learn more about Martin Luther King, Jr: his life, his legacy, the holiday honoring him, his wife and family, and more. There are video and audio inserts, PDF printables, excellent research information, and a very inspiring Flash enabled speech. This site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom

Share the video and/or audio clips on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Have students use this site for research projects. Challenge students to write a blog from King's perspective. Have students pretend that he could write a blog for people to read in the 2000s. What would he say? Has his dream come true?